Buying & Selling Guns Safely and Legally
HobbyTrade UK is an advertising marketplace. We let certificate holders list shotguns, Section 1 firearms, air weapons and parts where this is lawful, but we are not a party to the transfer. Every transfer must comply with current UK law, and it is the buyer's and seller's responsibility to make sure it does.
How regulated listings work
- Regulated items go in the Firearms & Shotguns category and are clearly labelled.
- Listing is free — £0 listing fee and £0 seller commission.
- Every regulated listing is reviewed by our team before it goes live.
- Ordinary postal delivery and card checkout are switched off for regulated items.
- Buyers send an enquiry; the seller reserves the item and arranges a lawful transfer.
Sellers must
- Be 18 or over and legally entitled to possess, sell and transfer the item.
- State what certificate the buyer needs, and whether an RFD transfer is available (and any dealer fee).
- See the buyer's valid certificate before transfer and meet all notification and record-keeping duties.
- Never list prohibited (Section 5) weapons, and never list regulated items outside the regulated category.
Buyers must
- Be 18 or over and hold the correct valid certificate where one is required.
- Only complete the transfer face to face or through a Registered Firearms Dealer (RFD).
- Not ask a seller to post a regulated item.
What HobbyTrade does
We review regulated listings, record declarations and enquiry activity in an audit trail, act on reports and cooperate with the police where the law requires. We do not tell you whether a particular transaction is lawful — if in doubt, speak to an RFD or your local police firearms licensing department before you proceed.
Reporting a concern
Use Report listing on any regulated listing. Concerns about regulated items are prioritised by our moderation team. If you believe a crime is being committed, contact the police.